| 2008 Important Exam Dates Application Deadline Early: July 1, 2008 Final: August 15, 2008 Certification Exams September 28-29, 2008 Tampa, FL |
| Certification Information |
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• Policies & Procedures for |
ABBM History and Overview
The American Board of Bariatric Medicine is an independent medical specialty board responsible for certifying physicians in the field of bariatric medicine. Organized as a committee of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) in 1970, the ABBM was incorporated as an independent entity in 1997.
Description of Bariatric Medicine
Bariatric medicine is the medically-supervised treatment of obesity and its associated conditions. In 1985, the National Institutes of Health, at its Health Consensus Development Conference on the Health Implications of Obesity, stated that obesity is a specific disease entity that should be treated and monitored medically by a trained physician.
In accordance with the ASBP/ABBM Bariatric Practice Guidelines, the American Board of Bariatric Medicine advocates a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to the treatment of obesity. This includes medical assessment and monitoring, as well as behavioral and dietary counseling, exercise, and, at the physician’s discretion, appetite suppressants.
Function of the ABBM
The American Board of Bariatric Medicine was established to serve the public and the field of bariatric medicine through the establishment and maintenance of criteria and procedures for examination and certification of physicians who seek recognition of their accomplishments in bariatric medicine.
| The rigorous and lengthy certification process includes: |
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